September 16, 2016: US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requires providers to develop emergency preparedness plansThe September 16, 2016, CMS announcement about its emergency preparedness rule that will require a coordinated set of requirements to be established by the various providers governed under the rule. The emergency preparedness spectrum extends to the public who rely on the various organizations that provide different levels of medical and social wellness care as well as to the staff and physical plant assets that are part of the delivery system. The regulations are in effect as of November 15, 2016 and the implementation date is November 15, 2017. Per the rule, hospitals, transplant centers, critical access hospitals and long term care facilities must carefully evaluate their emergency and standby power systems. Specifically, they must be inspected, tested, and maintained in accordance with the 2010 edition of NFPA 110, Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems, as well as the 2012 editions of both NFPA 99 and NFPA 101.

May 4, 2016: CMS Fire Safety Requirements for Certain Health Care FacilitiesCMS issued a final rule that will amend the fire safety standards for Medicare and Medicaid participating hospitals, critical access hospitals (CAHs), long-term care facilities, intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICF-IID), ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), hospices which provide inpatient services, religious non-medical health care institutions (RNHCIs), and programs of all-inclusive care for the elderly (PACE) facilities. Further, this final rule will adopt the 2012 edition of the Life Safety Code (LSC) and eliminate references in our regulations to all earlier editions of the Life Safety Code. It will also adopt the 2012 edition of the Health Care Facilities Code, with some exceptions.

On-site training. NFPA can provide an expert instructor along with a customized training program at your facility for the 2012 editions of NFPA 101 and NFPA 99. Contact Lynne Grant, +1 617 984-7790.

Certification programs

Certified Fire Inspector I (CFI-I)
Candidates for the CMS Surveyor training program may first be required to obtain the Certified Fire Inspector I certification.

Certified Life Safety Specialist (CLSS-HC)
NFPA developed this certification for health care facility managers based on the 2012 edition of NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code. It is designed specifically for managers and staff responsible for working with CMS Surveyors. Note: CMS requires Surveyor candidates obtain the Certified Fire Inspector I (CFI-I) certification.